Sara Baber named Director of Distance Learning for the College of Geosciences

Sara Baber named Director of Distance Learning for the College of Geosciences

Apr 17, 2017

New director brings unique experience for the future of higher education.

Sara Baber joined the College of Geosciences in November of 2016 for a newly created position – Director of Distance Learning. Her primary responsibilities include development and implementation of online education programs for the college.

With a career in higher education and academic technology that spans 30 years, Sara brings a unique set of skills and experience. She spent time at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Case Western Reserve University, the University of Houston, and Oklahoma State University.

At the UNT Health Science Center, where she served as Director of Online Education, Sara helped launch the first online master’s degree in public health for the state of Texas. “It was great, because (the degree) was for working healthcare professionals.” she said. “We had people enrolled in the program who were nurses, doctors, epidemiologists, county health officials, and more.”

In the Fall of 2017, Sara will help take part in launching a new online degree for the College of Geosciences. The opportunity to start a whole new program, which is the only online degree of its kind for a Master of Geoscience, was a major aspect of what drew her to Texas A&M.

“If you’re working in Fairbanks, Alaska – you can still graduate with your master’s degree from Texas A&M, or anywhere else in the world,” Sara explained. “It makes so much sense if you’re a working professional. You’ve got family challenges, you’re trying to work, and you’ve got other social obligations – yet you’d like to earn a degree. This program is ideal for that, because it’s self-paced.”

Sara knows a thing or two about that from her own first-hand experience, which gives her a unique perspective for someone in her position. “I earned my doctorate as an online student. I’ve sat in the online student’s chair, which has helped me immensely,” she said. Sara received her doctorate in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University.

Not only is Sara excited about coming in on the ground level with a new online degree program, she’s also encouraged by the timing. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the necessity for responsible land and resource management, energy, and environmental protection is projected to increase the demand for geoscientists in the coming years. “This is a timely degree with the resurgence of the energy industry,” she pointed out.